What Constitutes a Good Approach to Radiation Safety Culture?

10 Points for Radiation Safety Culture in the HERT Sector

The following points could be used to incorporate suitable questions into general inspection regimes, to develop metrics for inclusion in Standards, and to input into training at all levels. Each ‘Culture factor’ has a number of suggested performance indicators that might be used to assess it.

Schedule of in-house audits including internal compliance audits with Local Rules and legislation

Schedule of in-house inspections of radiation facilities and practices

Review of recent audit results of Local Rules and legislative compliance

Review of recent inspection results and legislative compliance

Schedule of RP audits by ‘independent’ RPE or other suitable recognised expert including a review of the top level policies and procedures and how they match against sector best practice and/or legislative requirements.

Appropriate management of radioactive materials and radiation generating equipmentShow More

Documented management system in place

Evidence of equipment replacement programme

Evidence of Service/Maintenance contracts

Evidence of QA (both equipment & standard operating procedures)

Evidence of action on QA results

Evidence of audit of RAM policy & procedures

Disposal records

Compliance with Permits or equivalent RSA compliance schedules

Non-compliance notices from external inspections recorded and made available on company/university intranet.

Documented use of appropriate guidelines

Evidence of culture where by staff/students are given the authority to challenge inappropriate actions and stop using ionising radiation where they feel it is unsafe.

Appropriate appointment & use of Recognised Experts & OfficersShow More

Policy level statement of their appointment and proper consultation with them

Members of staff are encouraged to join relevant radiation-related professional societies

Current Work

Of particular interest is the development of tools which can be used to measure the current state of RSC and develop it in a positive direction.

As part of this, a brief online survey was disseminated to all ionising radiation and non-ionising radiation stakeholders in the HERT sector. The results have been analysed and a presentation was delivered to the IRPA European Congress in The Hague, Netherlands, in June 2018.